Skating rink



Feb. 9, .1937. A. H. BAER l-:T AL 2,069,811

SKATING RINK File. June 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zcl.-

ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1937. A H. BAER ET AL 2,069,811

SKAT ING RINK Filed June 22, i934 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1937SKATING RINK Alvin H. Baer and Edward B. McCabe, Carbondale, Pa.,assignors, by mesne assignments, to Worthington Pump and MachineryCorporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Virginia Application June22, 1934, Serial No. '731,816

14 Claims.

The ordinary swimming pool is usually out of use in the wintertime,While the ordinary outdoor ice skating rink cannot be used in thesummertime.

One object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a pit,regularly or irregularly formed, may be easily converted into anartificial ice skating rink.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedconstruction Whereby a pit may be converted into a swimming pool or anartificial ice skating rink in a comparatively short time.

It has been proposed to provide a pan which carries a series of freezingpipes, and which eX- tends across substantially the entire area of apit. This pan is adapted to be sunk to the bottom of the pit when thelatter is to be used as a swimming pool, or floated to a position nearthe top of the pit when said pit is to be converted into an ice skatingrink. In this latter position, a layer of water in the floated pan isfrozen solid by the freezing pipes to form an ice skating floor. In aconstruction of this type, the pan breaks up the continuity of the innersurface of the pit When the latter is used as a swimming pool, andmaterially reduces the swimming space in said pit.

Also, when the pan is floated in position to o form an ice skatingfloor, the whole body of water upon which the pan is floated is cooledby the freezing pipes, so that a great deal of the refrigerating actionof said pipes is lost.

Furthermore, precaution must be taken to prevent sinking of the panresulting from overload or leakage through the pan.

As an important feature of the present invention, there is provided aneasily mountable and demountable skeleton frame structure supported inthe pit from the floor thereof. We provide one or more evaporator pipesections which may be supported upon the frame structure, and which maybe easily conveyed to or from the pit. In the winter, when it is desiredto use the pit as a skating rink, the skeleton frame structure isassembled in the pit and the evaporator sections supported upon saidframe structure below the top of the pit. The pit is then filled withwater to a level above the evaporator sections, and the refrigeratingsystem operated to freeze the water around said sections. A solid blockof ice of substantial thickness will be formed extending across theentire areav of the pit, and surrounding the evaporator sections. Theice block will span the gaps between adjoining pipe sections so as tohold said sections against horizontal displacement, and will present acontinuous horizontal smooth skating surface. Furthermore, the ice blockwill be positively supported against accidental sinking.

After a block of ice of substantial thickness has been formed, the levelof the unfrozen water in the pit below said ice block is dropped lowenough to avoid orY retard any further freezing of said water from thepipe sections or the cold atmosphere above', so that the power necessaryto form and maintain the desired ice skating surface is reduced to aminimum.

At the end of the skating season, the refrigerating system is shut down,the water drawn out of the pit, the evaporator section or sectionsremoved, and the frame structure disassembled. This takes but a shorttime and only a small amount of labor. The pit will then be in conditionfor swimming.

As a further feature of the present invention, the return main of allthe evaporator pipe sections is provided at its outlet with a pressurecontrol valve for sustaining a predetermined pressure, so that there isan equal evaporating temperature throughout all of the evaporatorsections, and the rate of freezing for the entire ice floor will beuniform throughout. Furthermore, the texture of the ice formed Will begreatly improved thereby.

As another feature, the present construction is provided With means forforming and maintaining the skating floor bythe circulation of avolatile refrigerant in direct heat exchange relationship with saidfloor. Hitherto, the successful freezing of the skating floor has beenattained only by the circulation of brine previously cooled in separatevessels by the direct expansion of the volatile refrigerant.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose ofillustration, one embodiment of the present invention. In thesedrawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, and partly in section,of a swimming pool which has been converted into a skating rink,

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken on the lines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively,of Fig. l, with the skeleton frame structure shown somewhatdiagrammatically,

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, showing details of the pipesections somewhat enlarged,

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l, but somewhatenlarged,

Fig. 6 is a top plan View showing in detail a portion of therefrigerating system, and

Fig. 7 is a side View of a part of the refrigerating system.

In the specific embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apit I3 which is shown of the ordinary construction customary in swimmingpools, and which may have a bottom which slopes lengthwise so that oneend of the pool is shallow while the other end is much deeper.

The skeleton frame structure for supporting the evaporator sections maybe of any suitable con-V struction in Which the members or sections arebolted together to permit them to be easily mounted in position when thepit is to be converted into a skating rink, and to be easilydisassembled and removed when it is desired to use the pit for aswimming pool. In the form shown, this frame structure comprises aseries of upstanding posts I l suitably braced and resting upon the pitBoor. Secured to the upper ends of the posts I I are suitable horizontalbeams I2.

The refrigerating system includes a plurality of evaporator sections I3,each advantageously comprising a pipe I4 serpentined as shown, andprovided .with inlets I5 and outlets I6 on the same side of the section.Each evaporator section is advantageously connected to Wooden crossbeams I'I by any suitable means as for instance straps I8 straddling thepipe I4, and secured to said cross beams by nails or screws. Theevaporator sections are supported on the frame structure with the crossbeams I'I resting on said structure as shown.

For an ordinary swimming pool each evaporator section I3 extends fromone side of the pit to a region substantially midway of the pit as shownin Fig. l, so that there are provided two series of these sections onopposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the pit.

Extending along each side of the pit is a feed header l5 connected tothe inlet I5 of each evaporator section I3 through a pipe 2 I. Alsoextending along each side of the pit is a return header 22 connected tothe outlet of each evaporator section I3 through pipes 23. Theconnections between the headers and the evaporator sections are effectedthrough easily disconnectible couplings.

In order that the feed and return headers may be concealed from view,there is provided along each side of the pit I0 a trench 24 having asuitable cover 25. The headers I9 and 22 extend in said trenches 24 andmay be supported on suitable piers 26 in the interior thereof.

The pipe connections 2| and 23 between the evaporator sections and theheaders I9 and 22 are shown extending upwardly along the side walls ofthe pit, over across the tops of the side walls, and downwardly into thetrenches 24. If desired, a suitable molding or curbing may be positionedaround the periphery of the pit alongside of the portions of the pipes2l and 23 extending upwardly in the inner sides of the pit to concealsaid pipes and to form a dasher board against which a hockey puck may behurled.

As an important feature of the present invention, the pipes I4 of theevaporatorsections I3 have cores 2'I extending axially through saidpipes to form annular chambers 28. 'Ihese cores may extend only throughthe straight portions of the pipes as shown, or may extend throughoutthe entire lengths thereof including the bends or headers. By means ofthis construction, the refrigerant will oW in a stream having an annularcross-section, and will have increased velocity, so that the rate ofevaporation will be greatly improved and the gases resulting from theevaporation may be cleared from the pipes as they are formed.

The refrigerating system includes a liquid refrigerantV or gas flashchamber 30 having a return pipe 3! leading to the upper portion thereoffrom the outlets of the return headers 22. The chamber 30 also has a gasoutlet 32 leading from the top thereof to the liquefying apparatus suchas av compressor, (not shown) As an important feature of the presentinvention, the return pipe 3I is provided With a pressure control valve33 acting as a yieldable restricting aperture in the return pipe, whichpasses both liquid and gas refrigerant to the chamber 30 where the gasand liquid separate. The gaseous refrigerant goes to the compressor (notshown) while the liquid refrigerant is pumped through the freezingsections. The valve 33, acting as a yieldable restriction in the returnpipe, sets up just enough resistance so that all of the coils orfreezing sections will be full of a mixture of flowing gas and liquid atall times, thereby maintaining complete distribution of the freezingsections and the surface of the coils or sections will be wetted withowing refrigerant and functioning at its fullest capacity as a freezingsurface.

The pressure control valve 33 mayY be of any approved type such as maybe purchased uponV the open market.

The liquid refrigerant is supplied by a conduit and the level of theliquid in the receiver 30 is controlled by any suitable means as forinstance a float control valve within a float chamber 34 communicatingwith the bottom and top of the chamber 30 through pipes 36 and 31. Theliquid from the chamber 30 is delivered to the evaporator sections I3 bya pump 38 driven I through a suitable source of power such as a m0- tor39, and having its inlet connected tothe bottom of the chamber 30through a pipe 40.

The main portion of the refrigerating system may be located at anysuitable place, for instance in a machinery room A neary the pit I0 asshown in Fig. 1.

In the Winter, when it is desired to use the pit I for a skating rink,the skeleton frame structure is assembled and supported upon the iioorof the pit. The evaporator sections are then supported close to eachother in position over the skeleton frame structure, and theirrespective inlets and outlets connected to their respective feed andreturn headers I9 and 22 respectively. Water is then introduced intosaid pit to a level above the evaporator sections I3. The refrigerating'system is then started to freeze the Water surrounding the sectionsuntila solid iioor of ice 42 of substantial thickness has been formed. 'I'hegaps between adjoining sections Will be filled by the ice block and theice skating surface Will be continuous throughout the whole area of thepit. The level of unfrozen water in the pool is then dropped to avoidany further freezing from the refrigerant or the cold atmosphere above.

Although the invention is shown as particularly adapted to convert anordinary swimming pool into a skating rink and vice Versa, theinvention, as far as certain of its aspects are concerned, is equallyadapted to convert any large outdoor pit into an artificial ice skatingrink. In such'cases, for instance, the pit may be lined with concreteand filled with cinders up to a certain level. The evaporator sectionspreviously described may be supported on said cinders with the woodencross beams II partially embedded in saidcinders to space said sectionsabove said cinders. The space between the cinders and the evaporatorsections may be lled with ne material such as sand. In forming theiceskating surface, water is introduced into the pit to a substantialheight above the evaporator sections, and a solid ice block formed asalready described. With such a construction, the cinders and sand do nothave to be removed at the end of the skating season.

Although the present construction is shown as provided with arefrigerating system in which a volatile refrigerant is circulated indirect heat exchange relationship with the skating floor to be frozen,as far as the broad aspects of the invention are concerned, otherrefrigerant may be used for directly cooling said skating floor. Forinstance, a refrigerant such as brine may be cooled in a suitablecooling device forming part of the refrigerating plant, and thencirculated by a pump in heat exchange relationship with the skating oor.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent iszl. In combination Ia pit adapted to be usedas a swimming pool, an easily mountable and demountable frame structuresupported in said pit, a pipe section horizontally supported on saidframe structure below the top of said pit and easily detachable fromsaid frame structure, means for introducing a freezing medium throughsaid pipe section to freeze a body of water above said section into asolid ice block, and means for sustaining the freezing medium at apredetermined pressure in said pipe section.

2. In combination an easily mountable and demountable frame structureadapted to be supported in a pit, a plurality of freezing sectionshorizontally supported on said frame structure in close relationship toeach other and below the top of said pit, said freezing sections beingeasily detachable from said frame structure, means for introducing arefrigerating agent through said freezing sections to freeze a body ofwater above said sections into a solid ice block extending substantiallyacross the entire area covered by said sections, and means forsustaining equal freezing temperature throughout all of said sections.

3. A convertible swimming pool and skating rink, including a pit largeenough to serve as a swimming pool, a frame structure easily mountableand demountable and supported in said pit, a plurality of freezingsections horizontally supported on said structure below the top of saidpit and easily deatchable therefrom, said sections conjointly extendingsubstantially throughout the entire area of said pit, means forintroducing a refrigerating agent through said freezing sections tofreeze a body of water surrounding said sections into a solid ice blockextending substantially across the entire area of said pit, and meansfor sustaining equal freezing temperature throughout all of saidsections,

4. A convertible swimming pool and skating rink including a pit largeenough to serve as a swimming pool, a frame structure easily mountableand demountable and supported in said pit, a feed header, a returnheader, a plurality of freezing sections horizontally Supported on saidstructure below the top of the pit, easily detachable therefrom, andconnected in parallel to said headers, and a pressure control valve atthe 'outlet of said return leader for sustaining a volatile'refrigerantunder a predetermined pressure throughout all of said freezing sections,so that equal freezing temperature is maintained throughout all of saidsections.

5. A construction for forming an artificial ice skating surface,comprising a freezing sec-tion including one or more pipes havingcoresextending axially therein to form annular chambers, means for supportingsaid freezing section horizontally in a pit, means for circulating avolatile refrigerating agent through said annular chamber to freeze abody of water into a solid ice block presenting an ice skating surface,and means for setting up a limited amount of resistance to flow ofrefrigerant through said chamber.

6. The method of converting a swimming pool into an artificial skatingrink, including thel steps of horizontally supporting a freezing coilbelow the top of the swimming pool, filling the pool with ,water to alevel above said coil, circulating a freezing agent through said coil toform a solid block of ice surrounding said coil, and then lowering theunfrozen level of water in said pool to form an air space below said iceblock.

'7. In combination, a pit adapted to be used as a swimming pool, aneasily mountable and de mountable frame structure supported in said pit,a pipe section horizontally supported on said frame structure below thetop of said pit and easily detachable from said frame structure, saidpipe section including a return pipe having a restricting aperturetherein, and means for creating a forced circulation of volatile liquidrefrigerant through said pipe section and restricting aperture.

8. In combination, a pit adapted to be used as a swimming pool, aneasily mountable and demountable frame structure supported in said pit,

horizontal freezing sections removably supported on said demountableframe at a level below the top of said pit, inlet and outlet headersjoining said freezing sections, means for creating a forced circulationof a volatile liquid refrigerant through said sections, and meanssetting up a limited amount of resistance to flow of said refrigerantfor maintaining complete distribution of refrigerating liquid throughall said sections.

9. In combination, a pit adapted to be used as a swimming pool, aneasily mountable and demountable frame structure supported in said pit,horizontal freezing sections removably supported on said demountableframe at a level below the top of said pit, inlet and outlet headersjoining said freezing sections, means for creating a forced circulationof a volatile liquid refrigerant through said sections, a return pipefrom said sections to said means, and means in said return pipe forminga yieldable resistance to the flow of liquid therethrough.

10. In combination, an easily mountable and demountable frame structureadapted to be supported in a pit, a plurality of freezing sectionshorizontally supported on said frame structure in close relationship toeach other and below the top of said pit, a receiver, means for creatingfrom said receiver a forced circulation of volatile liquid refrigerantthrough said freezing sections, a return pipe for returning therefrigerant to said receiver, and means setting up a limited amount ofresistance to iiow of said liquid for maintaining complete distributionof refrigerating liquid through all said sections.

11. In combination, an easily mountable and demountable frame structureadapted to be supported in a pit, a plurality of freezing sections nhorizontally supported on said frame structure in close relationship toeach other and below the top of said pit, a receiver, means for creatingfrom said receiver a forced circulation of volatile liquid refrigerant'throughV said freezing sections, a return pipe for returning therefrigerant to said receiver, and a yieldable restricting valve in saidreturn pipe.

12. A convertible swimming pool and skating rink including a pit largeenough to serve as a swimming pool, a frame structure easily mountableand demountable and supported in said pit, a feed header, a returnheader, a plurality of freezing sections horizontally supported on saidframe structure below the top of the pit easily detachable. therefromand connected in parallel to said headers, and means at the outlet ofsaid return header setting up a limited amount of resistance to flow ofrefrigerant so that equal freezing temperature is maintained throughoutall of said sections.

13. In combination, a pit large enough to serve as a swimming pool, aneasily mountable and demountable frame structure in said pit, a feedheader, a return header, a plurality of freezing sections supported onsaid frame structure below the top of said pit and connected to saidheaders, a receiver connected to the outlet of said rturn header, meansfor creating from said receiver a forced circulation of refrigerantthrough said freezing sections, a return pipe for returning therefrigerant to said receiver, and means setting up a limited amount ofresistance to flow of said refrigerant for maintaining completedistribution of refrigerant through all of said sections. l

14. In combination, a pit; large enough to serve as a swimming pool, aneasily mountable 'and demountable frame structure in said pit, a feedheader, a return header, a plurality of freezing sections supported onsaid frame structure below the top of said pit and connected to saidheaders, a receiver connected to the outlet of said return header, meansfor creating from said receiver a` forced circulation of refrigerantthrough said freezing sections, a return pipe for returning therefrigerant to said receiver, and a yieldable restricting valve in saidreturn pipe operable to set up resistance to flow of refrigerant formaintaining complete distribution of refrigerant through all of saidsections.

ALVIN H. BAER. EDWARD B. MCCABE.

